Choosing the right trees

Use the tables below to help choose the right tree for your situation.

Soil Moisture Condition

Soil Texture

 

Sandy (Coarse)
At least two-thirds

sand

Loamy (Medium)

Clayey (Fine)
At least one-third clay

 

Wet

Black willow

Cottonwood

Tamarack

Black willow

Cottonwood

Black ash

White cedar

Balsam fir

Black willow

Cottonwood

 

Moist

Norway (red) pine

White pine

Black spruce

White spruce

Paper birch

Yellow birch

Red oak

Black walnut

Silver maple

White cedar

White spruce

Paper birch

Red oak

White oak

Balsam fir

Yellow birch

Red oak

Green ash

Silver maple

White spruce

Paper birch

 

Moderately Dry

Norway (red) pine

Jack pine

Bur oak

Red oak

Yellow birch

Green ash

Red oak

White spruce

Green ash

Silver maple

Cottonwood

 

Dry

Jack pine

Bur oak

Green ash

Eastern red cedar

Green ash

Eastern red cedar


Shade Tolerance

Very Tolerant
(will grow in shade)

Balsam fir

Sugar maple

Tolerant

American basswood

Black spruce

Northern white cedar

Intermediate
(will grow in mixed sun and shade)

White oak

Bur oak

Eastern white pine

White ash

Green ash

Northern red oak

Red maple

Yellow birch

White spruce

Intolerant

Black ash

Silver maple

Black walnut

Butternut

Paper birch

Norway (red) pine

Very Intolerant
(needs full sunlight)

Tamarack

Poplar

Eastern red cedar

Jack pine

Quaking aspen